Imagine a father who gives everything to one non-deserving son that does nothing and ignores the other well-behaved son; this parallels the BYU football and rugby teams.
The BYU football program is provided with everything and doesn’t accomplish much while the Rugby team is given little and wins everything. If the rugby team had more support they could be the model of perfection in sports BYU intends to be.
Let’s draw the whole picture to realize how badly the football team is doing. First, it has not won a national title since 1984 or even a single bowl since 2006. Even so, many football players receive full scholarships and also are provided tutors. They get a full semi-professional staff to support the players on and off the field, not to mention all the advertisements on campus about the team. Despite everything they receive, though, they are not perfect.
On the other hand, the rugby players get no scholarships, no personal tutors—not even a proper stadium. They train in the winter under the worst climates, while the football team has its own indoor field. However, the rugby team stood up to these adversities by winning a national championship this year, putting our university on top of perfection in that area of sports. If directors and influential people invested more in the rugby program, it could undoubtedly be the icon sport for BYU and reflect what our university is all about—perfection.
Gustavo Ovando
Campeche, Mexico
Feeds 
5. My final comment: Anyone in America that loves College Football should at least encourage the growth of Rugby as well. Why? The two sports have many obvious, similar aspects to the point that they are good complements. I have heard of more than one player on the current BYU Football team that had their origins in rugby, perhaps the most apparent of which is none other than Harvey Unga. And no BYU Football fan complains that he got ready for football through rugby...
Bottom line: The BYU Men's Rugby team is BYU's most successful sport in terms of cumulative record... period. It's presence, popularity, and support will continue to grow at BYU and around the world, regardless of how long it takes. The BYU Football team is BYU's most popular, most recognized, and most supported sport as is deserving, and most all BYU Rugby fans love the football team... they simply love the BYU Rugby team also and thus fight for its increasing acceptance.
4. The BYU Football team boasts a final roster of some 124 or 125 players with 50 of these on full scholarship (no partial scholarships given). I heard this stat directly from two former players that are now on the BYU Rugby team. Perhaps in the future, the BYU Rugby team will have the funds to offer some kind of official scholarship to prospective players.
*Opinion: I would love to the see the numbers on the books for revenues versus expenses and etc. for the beloved BYU Football team. I would not be surprised if their expenses incurred actually offset their revenues almost completely if not totally. I think people all too easily point to the money brought in while giving no lip service to one of BYU's greatest expenses... the BYU Football team! (Just think about all the facilities, jobs, and infrastructure... kind of like servicing a whole community)
2. The team does enjoy relatively good support and use of facilities compared to other collegiate rugby programs in the nation. In the last year especially, the team has enjoyed a presence on South Field, conditioning and training help from Football trainers, and good publicity (especially after winning the 2009 National Title).
3. Rugby in America is growing very rapidly. It will only continue to grow over the next few decades... this means greater financial support, media attention, and so on. People like me will see that this exposure and growth happens no matter what.
Most homegrown American rugby players and fans LOVE College Football... why else do you think they got into rugby??? The goal is not to replace football but to grow rugby; it's too amazing a sport to be kept under wraps.
I'm somewhat saddened by the ignorance represented by this article as well as many of the comments... probably not anyone's fault, but not really grounds for lambasting someone defending BYU's most successful sport.
As the BYU Rugby team's #1 fan (http://byurugbyforever.blogspot.com), I enjoy the exposure the rugby team receives and the opportunity to educate about the sport and its increasing presence.
Here are some facts (in no particular order):
1. Since the BYU Men's Rugby team started in the early sixties, they have accumulated the best record of ANY BYU sport... The current head coach, David Smyth, has maintained a record that averages out to between 11-1 and 12-1 each season.
Actually, as reported on The Mtn. a few games ago, BYU football brings in a net $32 million dollars of revenue each year, I remember this because they contrasted it to other schools that brought in upwards of $130 million. How much does the rugby team bring in? I think the point has been proven WHY BYU Football gets all the attention it does. Even though it is a private university, it functions just the same as any other university, it needs money and will put money and attention to where money can be made.
Along with all the other great points, I'd just like to add that what you're proposing is not just a BYU issue. It's a broader social norms issue.
When was the last time you saw NCAA rugby on ESPN? Even during championships, coverage is minimal. Why? Money, yes, but money follows social trends and norms, it doesn't lead them.
Complaining about the issue of funding at a single school is hacking at the leaves of this "problem" that rugby is appreciated less in our society than football.
What you're really proposing is changing decades of social norms and American culture, which is okay, as long as you acknowledge that's the root of your issue.
The BYU Rugby team was actually featured twice on ESPNU this past season: 1. National Guard "Game of the Week", BYU vs. Utah; 2. National Championship Final, BYU vs. Cal Berkeley
I know that's not the same as ESPN, but I turn the question back to you... how many times has the BYU Football team been on ESPN? Maybe once a season if they're lucky???
In case you are unaware of this... the only reason BYU Football games are not aired on ESPN is because, as part of the Mountain West Conference, we have signed a contract with The Mountain and ESPN cannot access any rights to air BYU Football games.
Let's not kid ourselved by implying that ESPN has no interest in BYU-- being ranked in the Top 25 does not go unnoticed, especially by ESPN. Maybe if you actually watched ESPN you would know how much air time is actually devoted to discussing BYU as a legitimate contender.
If you want to make a point, I recommend checking your facts first.
"First, it has not won a national title since 1984 or even a single bowl since 2006." What about the UCLA victory in 2007 in the Vegas Bowl. I believe the score was 17-16. BYU blocked a field goal attempt to secure the win. If you have issues with the football team, at least attribute them to accurate facts.
Gustavo,
Who cares about Ruby? Football, now you're talking.
PS: I'd never pay a cent to watch a rugby game--THAT'S why BYU treats football the way it does.
And who did the Rugby team play? Bo Diddly Tech?
BYU actually played Cal Berkeley, the Dynasty of American Collegiate Rugby.
Out of the 30 National Championship matches since the Collegiate National Championship started in 1980, Cal Berkeley has won 24. So while Cal was going on their 25th National Title in 30 years, BYU was going for their first.
Basically, multiply the magnitude of the BYU football vs. Oklahoma win by 10 or even a 100, and then you'll comprehend the scale of what I'm describing...
Sorry brother, no Bo Diddly Tech...
BYU rugby = 1 national championship
BYU football = 1 national championship
BYU rugby revenue = next to nothing
BYU football revenue = 32 million dollars
nuff said
So you equate the BYU Rugby and Football teams in terms of achievement but not in terms of revenue?
What bearing does that have at all on my reply to your comment or anything at all?
The person who wrote the original article was obviously feeling very impassioned about the rugby team, as I always similarly feel, but no one would debate that BYU Football brings in more revenue than any other BYU sport.
At the same time, however, I don't understand why the money claim is such a crutch that BYU fans like to lean on... what does it matter? If the BYU Football team consistently played like garbage, then would you still beat your chest with that or any argument? Please...
I don't think that word means what you think it means.
BYU's women's cross-country team is often pretty good, too. Should we become the "women's cross country university?"
Sir,
Your comment is one of the most ignorant comments I have ever read while at BYU. To say that BYU Rugby has had more success than BYU football exemplifies to me that you do not understand college football. I forgive you for your comment because it is apparent you do not understand the impact college football has on the United States of America. If you want to learn go to Texas, Florida, Georgia, or anywhere in the south and you will realize that to be ranked in the AP top twenty five is a feat that is of great recognition. Ignorance is bliss I guess, but you sir are just ignorant.
I think his point was that the BYU Rugby team prevailed with similarly daunting, if not greater, odds...
BYU Rugby overcame all kinds of setbacks to achieve what would be the equivalent of a complete and massive blow-out game against Florida at the Swamp...
Of course, I can't blame you for not knowing what the BYU Rugby team accomplished, but there's a potential BYU Rugby fan in everyone!
It's never too late! :)
BYU football players get scholarships because their sport produces revenue from ticket sales to the community. Football produces so much revenue, in fact, that its surpluses fund the rest of BYU's intercollegiate sports, including Rugby. Due to the restrictions of title IX, most full scholarships not awarded to football players are awarded to participants in women's sports. Scholarships that are awarded to other men's sports (not including basketball, which in most years is self-supporting) are most often split among multiple players (e.g., track, volleyball).
While I agree that BYU Rugby is a great example of the highest quality that this University can produce and that its players often labor in relative obscurity, I disagree with your assertion that the team doesn't enjoy fine facilities or enjoy relatively good support from the University. The team has a lot of support on campus from students, practices in the IPF (though often at odd hours, sometimes bumped by other "higher priority" sports), enjoys one of the nicest rugby pitches in the country at South Field, and generally operates in a first class way. Following the example of Men's Volleyball, I would love to see Rugby be "promoted" to full intercollegiate status, with a full-time coaching staff and be part of the Intercollegiate Athletic Department reporting to Tom Holmoe. But you can't say that they don't have good facilities and don't enjoy terrific student and community support. It's just not true.
FYI: BYU Football brings in around 10 MILLION dollars a year- with alot of that money going to support all the other sports that do NOT make any money! How do you think Volleyball, soccer, etc. pay for uniforms, travel, etc.??? Football, football, football.
For you to say that Football accomplishes nothing is completely ignorant. BYU football has been successful nearly every year for the last several decades. I don't understand where you are coming from.
Having said that, my husband is a rugby player and played for BYU. We love rugby and agree that it should be a school supported sport, with money and more support. But keep in mind that when that happens... the money rugby receives will be coming from... football.
I'm kind of embarrassed by your lack of optimism and support, not very representative of true BYU Rugby fans out there...
Those of us who truly care would see BYU Rugby emerge independent of the Football team or anything else BYU can dip their hands in...
Sorry but the BYU Rugby team is not completely crippled and unable to do anything for itself... that's a sort of slap in the face to us former players.
The argument has been around when I was at the Y 10 years ago and longer than that. And the reason nobody acts on it is that it has no validity. The football team pulls in the money to pay for itself and then some. Were there enough paying onlookers for the rugby team to pay for scholarships or facilities, then BYU would use the revenues to pay for those things. You may be the best person in the world at doing something. If nobody is willing to pay to see it, then that act has no monetary value.